STYLING

HOW TO WEAR WORKWEAR FOR SS18

By Matt Glazebrook, February 27, 2018

Workwear wearers of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains. And your pocket squares, scarves and any other unnecessary embellishment. Clean, simple, rugged cuts from apparel brands like Carhartt and Dickies have been doing some serious heavy-lifting in the streetwear scene for a few seasons now. For your spring shift, here’s how to power up your proletarian pieces with some retro styling ideas.

'90s 9 to 5

True carpenter pants feature extra pockets and a hammer loop to accommodate the tools of the trade. But, if you aren’t actually planning any woodworking adventures, then this '90s-style pair – that replicates the indigo wash and contrast stitching of joiner’s jeans – might do the job.

Retro dad sneakers are the workhorses of the footwear scene, so these comfy, old-school ones are a solid base from which to build any hard-grafting getup. Layer up a down-to-earth burgundy button-down with a striped, half-zip T-shirt in mustard for a tonal touch up top.

The golden age of workwear

Big pocketed, boxy and satisfyingly simple, the classic worker jacket is a solid spring staple. This bold wool version brings a touch of cutting-edge to a classic template with its on-trend emergency orange colorway.

Balance out your high-vis top half with some '50s-flavored basics down below: mid-washed, straight-leg jeans with a cuff, white socks and functional, chunky-soled Derbies – AKA "postman shoes," popularized by mailmen in the post-war era.

On stripe in the '70s

This monochrome getup takes a couple of timeless, utilitarian pieces – the nautical-but-nice breton top and the shopfloor-standard worker jacket – and gives them an off-duty edge with some '70s-influenced flair.